FRISCO - Tomorrow in Lisbon, another UEFA Champions League winner will be crowned and perhaps the biggest Atletico Madrid fan lives right here in Frisco and patrols the midfield for FC Dallas.

Midfielder Peter Luccin, who was back on the bench for FC Dallas in Wednesday's loss in Los Angeles after missing the last six weeks with a leg injury, spent three years with Los Colchoneros from 2004-2007, having played with current Atletico coach Diego "Cholo" Simeone in that first 2004-2005 season.

"I played for years at Atletico Madrid and I can’t explain what is happening over there because they have very, very good players," Luccin said after training a couple weeks ago. "But for me it’s a team thing and a “Simeone” thing, the coach who does a very good job."

Last Saturday at the historic Nou Camp in Barcelona, Atleti won La Liga for the first time since 1996 with a 1-1 draw against Barcelona and Luccin says a third team infringing on the normal big two of Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spanish soccer is definitely a good thing.

"It’s always been just two teams, but it’s good for the champoinship because last year it was so easy. It’s Real Madrid and Barcelona 20 points ahead," said Luccin. "So now we know and understand there’s another team. It’s amazing, but Atletico Madrid is a very good and historic team. Now the thing is changing and it’s good for the championship."

As for Simeone, currently the toast of European soccer, Luccin says that his teammates always knew the man known as "Cholo" would one day be a manager.

"I played one year with him and he was an aggressive player, a very passionate player and of course I could see he would be a coach one day," said Luccin. "Everyone thought he would be a coach. He does a very very good job…we can see 11 players running 90 minutes and it’s not easy. There’s good technique, but the fitness is so important with that team."

Looking ahead to Saturday's UEFA Champions League Final, the man who spent a good portion of his life in Madrid says he's happy that both the city's teams are in the final and, surprisingly said he likes both teams. However, there's no question who Luccin is cheering for on Saturday.

"I’m a big, big, big fan. It’s a little bit strange to say I like both teams, but I’m happy to see both teams in the final," said Luccin. "It’s strange. If you talked to any Atletico fan, it would be hard, but me, I like Madrid. I like the city so I like both teams but I want to see Atletico Madrid win the Champions League